We started on the 12th at 7am reach high camp at 11:23, set up camp took a nap. Left for summit at 6am switchbacks were still snowed in for the most part, so we climbed up the snow shoot to trail crest 13,777 ft. We summited at 9:30 am stayed on top for about a half hr, 23 degrees at the top, and windy, headed back at 10:07 and glissaded down the snow shoot we came up. We were back at high camp at 12 noon. packed up camp and head for the portals. Total trip took 11 hrs 34 min. You save alot of time going up the snow shoot. Snow was pretty icy at 6 am make sure you use crampons.

Made the summit in about six hours via the trail. Total round trip in under 11 hours. We spent one night a 5000 feet at the Lone Pine Campground, did a day hike to Lone Pine Lake for acclimitization the next day and on the next morning made a 4:00 AM departure for the summit. Strenous 21 mile round trip hike.

Route Climbed: Whitney Trail both times Date Climbed: September 1963 and September 1992

I first climbed Whitney with my dad at age 16 in 1963. We camped part way up, and got an early start because we had to hike all the way up and out on summit day. I was sicker than a dog on the summit. And I was dead tired back at the car. For the '92 climb we started very early from Whitney Portal and did the round trip, getting back in mid-afternoon. I had started running two years before, so I felt great on the summit. Instead of being totally wasted back at the car, I jogged to the store to buy the "I hiked the big one in one day" T-shirt, or whatever it says. Running is by far the best thing I ever did for myself. I HIGHLY recommend it! One benefit is that I no longer feel sick at elevation.

I drove up to the "Whitney Portal" trailhead on the evening of May 19 and camped near the parking lot. The next morning, at 2:46 am, I awoke to my watch alarm, stuffed a few pieces of bread into my mouth, drank a liter of coke, and downed a handful of instant coffee crystals (caffeine is currently my drug of choice). I grabbed my pack and began hiking at exactly 3:00 am. The first few miles were uneventful, but at about mile 4 the trail became very unclear. There were footprints in the snow leading in seemingly every direction. In the dark it was very difficult to tell which way the real trail went, so I just headed uphill and somehow got to "Trail Camp" (~12,000 ft) without really getting lost. Above Trail Camp, I put on my crampons and hiked up the 35 degree snow slope to the right of the switchbacks. From there, I followed path along the "back" (west) side of Mt Muir and up to the summit of Mt Whitney. I arrived on top at 7:32 am. After 20 minutes on top, I got bored, so I started the trek down. I got back to my car at 10:49 am. I didn't see another person the entire time.